English Dub Review: Tsukigakirei “The Wind Rises”

Time to break some wind.

Everyone in third year is picking their high schools. Akane isn’t even sure if she’s going to do track in high school, although she doesn’t say why. She hasn’t picked her school yet and neither has Kotaro. They’d like to go to the same school, but if it’s not possible, at least they live close. But at home, Akane’s dad announces he’s probably going to be transferred at his job.

Kotaro thinks back to when the literary agent told him he has no future in serious literature. At dinner, his mom begs him to take his future seriously. Later he asks his bookstore friend about light novels and if they’re any good.

They have a cute text conversation with all kinds of stickers and emojis. I’ve really come to like that they show these little moments of the relationship, now that there are actually moments to show. Kotaro asks if he can come watch Akane’s last track meet, but she doesn’t agree.

I also like this progression from the sports festival episode. Akane barely uses her worry potato and she does extremely well, beating everyone else, and her personal record. Her relationship with Kotaro didn’t ruin her focus like it seemed to be doing, although she doesn’t know that he secretly showed up. At the beginning of the year, everyone was so full of hope and promise. Now, after the meet, Akane, Chinatsu and friends all have a tearful goodbye over their lunches. They seem to think they’ll never see each other again. Hira walks up behind them and sees them all crying and eventually makes them all laugh.

Kotaro texts Akane a congrats. As the tournament is packing up, Akane and Hira lean against a fence and talk about high schools. She accidentally tells him she’s probably moving and asks him not to tell. Hira suggests that they all go to the festival as their last track club outing later in the month. But Chinatsu knows what’s going on. She asks Hira if he hasn’t given up on Akane yet, and he says he hasn’t even taken a shot. What’s with all these kids thinking they still have a shot with someone who’s still with someone else?

That night, Kotaro’s dad tells him he doesn’t need to go to a good school. He then apologizes to Akane and lets her know he was at the track meet. She’s fine with it, because of more, unfortunately, she tells him she might be moving.

This episode didn’t have the big moves that more recent episodes have had, although that could be a good thing. I like the high emotions in Tsukugakirei when it’s loving, but it doesn’t have a strong grip on melodrama. I hope the story doesn’t revert to its painful beginnings now that the relationship is facing some real drama.

SCORE
7/10